[Sir Ville]

If you want the best out of ANY rifle then hand loading is the way to go. That said all Tikka and Sako rifles shoot very well with Tikka/Sako cartridges and all Lapua. Use heavier bullets with that 1/8 twist, say 69gr and up, and you´ll see what all the fuzz is about …

[Sir Ville]

I nearly the same has you but I clean after every shot for the first 5 then the same has you , also you’ve opened a can of worms asking this lol

Have the same secret method myself …  8)

[Sir Ville]

Naaaah. It´s the new X1 Rimfire 🙂

[Sir Ville]

I bought my T3 6.5-55 Hunter blue walnut last fall.  It came from Eurooptics a couple days before leaving for a Whitetail trip to Wyoming, so no time.  It's a tack driver, bugholeing at 100 yds.  Would like to load some 140s a little over the books, maybe 2650 or so, just to flatten the trajectory.  I know the books are quite conservative out of respect for the Swede 96, 94 and the Norwegian Krag, and this new rifle ought to take just a little more steam than those older war horses.  I have Reloader 22, H4831 and several other powders on hand..  Any sugestions??  Thanks

You can definitely use hotter loads than those overly concervative ones most American Powder Brands list them at.
Download the Vihtavuori App and check how much higher loads they recommend for “6.5 X 55 SE/SKAN” (the data for modern 6,5 Swede) compared to their data for “plain” “6.5X55 Swedish Mauser”.
The difference is quite a lot 😉
Ie the Nosler load data is too low-even their max loads. The reason is exactly what you suspected too. The vast array of those old Krag Jorgensen´s and such.

Use caution and keep an Eye on the signs of over pressure though …

[Sir Ville]

Get a T3 TAC A1 and you´re set 😉
No limited editions ..
http://www.tikka.fi/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-tac-a1

[Sir Ville]

Recoil sensitive or not but the caliber/round is one accurate bugger with exceptional ballistics. I load my ammo with either 108,123,136 or 139 gr Lapua Scenar for target shooting and the gun is a Tac Driver – to put it mildly 😉

I totally agree…6.5 will be my next purchase if I don't go 260…
Can't beat the ballistics and accuracy for a 1000yrd gun, and it makes for a fine hunting rifle for anything from coyotes to deer.

A great caliber indeed.

[Sir Ville]

Thanks Mallard,
That's a thought.  I think the debris which is light and dusty is probably cinder from not fully burned powder.  So I'll try heating up the load and try another powder as well.

It most definitely is just that. The recommended min loads are always ridiculously low.

[Sir Ville]

Recoil sensitive or not but the caliber/round is one accurate bugger with exceptional ballistics. I load my ammo with either 108,123,136 or 139 gr Lapua Scenar for target shooting and the gun is a Tac Driver – to put it mildly 😉

[Sir Ville]

+1 for heavier bullets. Mine loves 155 gr Lapua Scenar and upwards from there on.

[Sir Ville]

A late reply but anyway : The barrel length is measured where it's attached to the action. Your first gun was definitely the 510mm barreled version and not what it should've been – a 600 mm barreled rifle.
Good you got it sorted though 😉

[Sir Ville]

I have a Super Varmint in both .223 (with a 1/8″ twist) and in 6.5X55. Both bedded in a GRS Berserk stock. Absolutely fabulous shooters both of them I also have a T3X TAC A1 in .308. Haven´t had the time to really shoot it yet, just done the break-in on it, but it already shows some great promise.
You can´t go wrong with a Tikka 🙂

[Sir Ville]

Try  Lapua Scenars 155gr. Will be an eye-opener 😉

[Sir Ville]

+1 for 6.5X55 AND for the Varmint/Super Varmint model. Ridiculously accurate caliber – and rifle. Feed it with any Lapua Scenar bullets and you´ll be a happy Camper 😉

[Sir Ville]

I changed the trigger spring on mine to a lighter one. Made the trigger 200% better. Now it can be adjusted faaaar down in weight for range work 😉

[Sir Ville]

I have useld VV 160 with great success on all bullets from 130gr and upwards in my “Swede”.
Never tester the H4350 though.  Maybe i should  🙂